I'm not a Brander. Can
I still join, or become a Member of the ABA?Sorry,"Members"
are branders and/or branding agencies
whom we feel qualify in meeting our criteria.
If you are
visiting this site, then you are unofficially
assisting our community
by using
the resources we provide. Helping to spread
the word will assist the ABA to grow, and your
community
to thrive. Please read our Mission statement.

How do I find a Preferred
Brander for our company/project?Contact us. Include what
industry you work in, locale, and a brief description
of your project. Once we find an excellent match,
we will contact you. If you prefer to attempt this
on your own, please visit the Members page,
review their portfolios and/or methodologies,
and locate the right agency for your needs. Again,
if you need help deciding, just contact us. That's
what we're here for.

My business is outside
of Seattle/Washington State. Can I still use
the ABA's services?Absolutely. Our
main scope is on strengthening our nation's
brand presence globally, we oftentimes
get
calls from out-of state companies (46%),
including international queries (19%). Even though
we are headquartered in Seattle, our aim is to
refer talent where you do business. Our Member
referrals are the best in the industry.

I've been thinking about
becoming a Brander. How do I go about becoming
one?We get asked this a
lot. Branding is a popular subject but still
somewhat of an emerging field where academia
is concerned. Branders come from all sorts of
backgrounds. Behavioral
psychology,
marketing, English, advertising, creative writing,
graphic
design, product/industrial design, architecture,
etc. It depends in part what your specialty
is. Top branders usually, but not always, possess
at least two degrees. With marketing/design/psychology
as the standard mix. This does not however preclude
proficiency. The process of branding can't work
effectively if a creative acumen
is lacking in some degree. Historically, Graphic/Identity
Designers have been known to create the most
captivating brands since they are the ones who literally design
the brand from the inside out. E.g., a talented Graphic
Designer with an additional BS/BA, MBA or MA in psychology, marketing or creative writing is a
powerful force. It's not uncommon to find a great strategist
with weak design skills. More unlikely is finding a talented designer with weak strategic capabilities.

Do you really brand
sheep and other animals?No.

Branders/Agencies/Sponsors

I'm a Brander/Agency. How do
I get on the ABA's preferred brander referral
list?Email us a link to your
work and your resumé. If you meet with
our criteria, you will be contacted usually within 30 days.
You must be a legal State-recognized
company with a UBI number. You must also be
an ABA Member in good standing.

Why was I turned down for
Membership?Cheer up, buttercup. For whatever
reason(s) you did not meet with the ABA's criteria.
This could mean any number of things. 75% of the time it's a result of possessing a strong
strategic acumen but exhibiting a weak design portfolio. You
may resubmit after 1 year, or sooner if the criteria
has been amended. Note, all submitted work MUST have been executed in-house;
No subcontracted materials from outside vendors will be accepted.

I work in the industry, how
do I join, or become a member of the ABA?You must work in a directly related
field of branding. Email us a link
to your work and/or resumé if applicable.
If you meet with our criteria, you will be contacted
within 30 days.
You must be a legal U.S. state recognized company
with a UBI number, and pay an annual $120.00
membership fee.

How come this service is free
to businesses?Read our mission statement.
We have Sponsors and Members. What's good
for them, is good for us; and by default, good for
the entire brander/business/consumer
community. Our aim is to promote better branding through
the exposure of talented & seasoned branding professionals.

How do I post an event or
other function? As long as it's brand/design
related and not all about your genius, it goes
up. Depending on the content, ABA Membership might be prerequisite.Email
us the specifics with a link to the URL
(please keep it to 30 words maximum). No HR, PR nor
events purely for the purpose of advertising your
services.

Where's the ABA BrandVentions™ Competition and Awards page?
Our BrandVentions™ page can be found at BrandVentions™

Where's your blog?Our blog Brand
Oven™ although technically
online, has been made inactive until further notice. When it comes available again the ABA blog will be accessible to subscribing Members.